Seattle Things to Do Tips by joiwatani Top 5 Page for this destination

Visit the Chihuly Garden and Arts Museum

The Chihuly Garden and Arts Museum is a must see if you head down to the Space Needle! This museum show cases the best glassworks of Chihuly!

I must say that it was worth my money to go to Chihuly's. Chihuly is a very famous artist- recognized for his arts first in Europe and then here in the United States. His arts are displayed in many countries including his backyard, Tacoma, Washington and Seattle!

If you are a King County resident, make sure to bring your driver's license because the museum gives discounts to residents. There is also a discount for senior citizens and children.

Address: Seattle, Washington

Directions: It is located at the back of the Space Needle

Where the "Sleepless in Seattle" movie was taken

You can check out the house where actor Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan's movie "Sleepless in Seattle" was taken. This house is a boat house located at the Lake Union in Seattle.

I had the chance to have a glimpse of the house since it is now sold to a private owner in the hefty amount of $2 million dollars!

You have to take the Duck Tour to be able to see it.

Address: Lake Union, Seattle, Washington

Check out the boat community in Seattle!

I was told that Hong Kong has the most boat houses in the world! And, second to that is the City of Seattle! It is the only city in the United States which has a boat community! (This was told by our Duck Tourist Guide, Mr. John from the Duck Tour Company).

It is definitely refreshing to see the boat community in Seattle. They have their own hookups to the city of Seattle sewage, pay taxes, etc.

The boat houses ranges from a hefty 2 million dollars to a $50,00 small boat!

Address: Lake Union, Seattle, Washington

Check out the Gasworks Park Gas Works Park Review

One thing that you can appreciate in the City of Seattle are the arts and crafts! It's the one of the cities in the United States that value arts. Everywhere you go, there is an art or anything of that sort- murals on the walls, paintings at the airport, etc.

At Gasworks Parks, there are many sculptures that you can see. The Gasworks Park is a great park to bring your children, too to play.

In this picture, you see Gasworks Park that I took from my Duck Tour.

Address: 2101 North Northlake Way, Seattle, WA

Take the Duck tour

When my sister and her family came to Seattle and visited me for the fourth time, I decided to take them to the Duck Tour. Where else can I bring them when they had seen most of the tourist destination in Seattle?

King Tut was in town but all the tickets were sold out. I can't even take them at the Pacific Science to see the gold slippers of King Tut!

So, we took the train (the best way to get to Westlake Station to catch the Duck Tour so I don't have to deal with parking) and boarded the latest Duck Tour. The cost was $28 per person excluding gratuities).

From the Westlake, the captain of the Duck showed us Downtown Seattle - from the old Fire Station of the city, Ballard Community, Queen Anne Community, Wallingford Community, Fremont Community and head down to the Seattle Marina. We looped around the Lake Union and had seen all the Boat Community of Seattle. He also showed us the house where the "Sleepless in Seattle" movie was taken.

We passed by the Gasworks Park, had seen the Fremont Bridge (from the Lake point of view) and took the beautiful Downtown Seattle with the Space Needle!

The ride was very pleasant (photographer's delight) and I had learned more of the background and history of the city!

I highly recommend this tour because the tour guide is very well informed about the city, very jolly and excited about his job.

The tour lasted two and half-hours.

Address: Westlake Station, Westlake, Seattle

The International District International District Review

The International District is one of the many places in Seattle that is very interesting and very diversed. Just bear in mind that Seattle is one of the cities in the United States where 59 languages are spoken!

The International District is a place where you can taste different cuisines : Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, Malaysian, Cambodian, Singaporean, and Vietnamese. There are so many grocery stores here where you can buy imported goods from Japan, China and Vietnam.

This is a place where you can go for Dim Sum on early Sunday morning, and eat Wonton Soup late at night!

If you are looking for 24 karat gold jewelries, you can also come here and check out the many jewelry stores put up by the Vietnamese community.

Every summer, the Chinese Festival is held here and also the Bon Odori (Japanese) Festival.

Address: International District, Seattle, Washington

Directions: From I-5 going North, Exit on Dearborn Exit or from I-5 going South, exit on James St.

Visit the Woodland Park Zoo

First of all, if you visit the Woodland Park Zoo, you must remember that you have to have at least one day to be able to see most of the animals, insects, birds, gardens, African houses, etc.

Second, you have to bring a good camera (bring a zoom lense to be better), extra -batteries, wear comfortable shoes, pack plenty of water if you visit during the summer time, and tons of energy!

Third, always ask for a zoo map so you can plan where to go first and saves you time.

When we visited the Woodland Park Zoo, we basically went to every cage and every designated places. My husband and daughter Sierra enjoyed our one day trip at this zoo!

Woodland Park Zoo is a zoological garden in Seattle, Washington that is basically surviving right now because of the generous donations from Seattle residents, corporations and from the sale of tickets. This 188 acre zoo was bought by the city for $5,000 and was established in 1899.

The hours of admission here are the following:
Open every day of the year except Christmas Day, December 25)

October 1 to April 30:
9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily

May 1 to September 30:
9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily

The fee is $17.50 for adults and $12.00 for children. There are military and senior discounts but bring your ID. Group discounts are also available.

Address: 601 N. 59th Street, Seattle, WA 98103

Directions: Take I-5 north to N.E. 50th Street (Exit #169). Go west 1.3 miles to the South Entrance at N. 50th Street and Fremont Avenue N.

Phone: (206) 548-2500

Website: http://www.zoo.org

Listen to Peruvian Music at the Space Needle Space Needle Review

This group had been singing at the Space Needle for a long time. Every time I have visitors, I bring them to the Space Needle and while waiting for my visitors at the Space Needle, I just sit down closeby and listen to their Peruvian music. I enjoyed their instrumental cultural music. I bought three of their CD's.

Apart from singing with their Peruvian instruments, they also sell some arts and crafts from Peru including their own CD's.

You can support them by buying their CD's for $15.00 and buying the crafts they are selling and/or giving them donations. They used their guitar case to throw your donations. They appreciate it.

Address: Space Needle, Seattle, Washington

Directions: Take I-5 and exit on Mercer St. Take a left on Fairview Ave and follow signs to Denny Way. Parking is expensive but there are free parkings close to front of the the KOMO 4 News building.

Visit the Snoqualmie Falls Snoqualmie Falls Review

It's about 30 minutes drive from downtown Seattle, so it's not that bad. Really...This waterfall is beautiful. There's free parking there. You might as well pack your lunch and head to the waterfalls. You will pass by beautiful emerald trees- that's how gorgeous Washington State is!

Address: 6501 Railroad Avenue Southeast, Snoqualmie

Directions: Fr Seattle. Take I-5 S / I-90 E ramp to PORTLAND. Merge onto I-90 E via the exit on the L toward BELLEVUE / SPOKANE. Take Hi18 W exit – EXIT 25. Turn L onto Hi18/SE SNOQUALMIE PKWY. Turn L onto RAILROAD AVE SE / WA-202. Continue to follow WA-202.

Website: http://www.snoqualmiefalls.com

The Waterfront in Seattle

It is nice to walk around the Waterfront because there are so many things to see. If you don't like to spend money but get the most of your visit in Seattle, just head down to the Waterfront. You can have a great view of the Puget Sound - you will see the ferry boats come and go to the different islands. Also, there are some stuffs to see there like the Seattle Aquarium, The Argossy Cruises, the Pirates Plunder, the Fisherman's Wharf, the Miner's Landing, the Crab Pot, array of restaurants and souvenir shops. There is also an antique stores.

Address: Waterfront (Alaskan Way/Pike Place Market

Directions: Front the Pike Place Market, go down towards the water.